PROVIDENCE, R.I. -
Providence used a three-goal second period on Friday night to defeat the #9 UMass hockey team 3-2 at Schneider Arena. The Minutemen tallied two late third period goals to climb back into the game, but could not find the equalizer in the final minute of play. UMass (9-6-5, 4-5-4 HEA) will travel to #15 UMass Lowell on Saturday evening for a 7 p.m. faceoff.

After a scoreless first period, Providence netted three in the third period. It was until Brett Watson's goal with just under three minutes remaining in the game that UMass was able to get on the score board.

Watson tallied his first goal of the season while Chris Davis added his third score of the year. UMass ran into trouble on the power play, going 0-for-4 and managing two shots. Paul Dainton made 27 saves in goal for the Minutemen. The Minutemen were able to kill off five power play chances for Providence and have killed off 11 of the last 12 opponent power plays over the last three games.

Providence carried the play for most of the opening period, but the Minutemen did manage to get a few opportunities late. UMass had their best scoring opportunity of the period when Mike Kostka intercepted the puck in the neutral zone, skated into the offensive end and fed Mike Lecomte with a pass. The puck was deflected by a Friar defenseman, and Lecomte was unable to get a good hold for a shot.

The Friars were crafty defensively in the neutral zone intercepting several UMass clearing attempts and nearly scoring on several of those chances. With the pressure, Providence held an 11-to-4 edge in first period shots.

Although the Minutemen outshot the Friars 9-6 in the second period, it was Providence who went into the locker room with a commanding lead.

Providence took the 1-0 lead just one minute later, however, when John Cavanagh took a pass from Jordan Kremyr and threw a wrist shot through traffic that got past Dainton. The Friars extended their lead to two goals three minutes later when Matt Germain deflected a shot from the point for his first collegiate goal.

After Providence took a penalty just before the midway mark of the period, the UMass power play went to work trying to cut their deficit in half. While on the penalty kill, the Friars took a commanding lead when Greg Collins netted his fourth goal of the season with a shorthanded effort. Collins blocked a shot then gathered the rebound and carried it through the neutral zone beating Dainton to the left side.

The Minutemen finally got on the board with 2:55 remaining in regulation when Watson scored his second career goal. Kevin Kessler fed Alex Berry between the hashmarks who fired a shot that deflected off Providence goalie Tyler Sims and Watson was there to bang home the rebound.

After the Minutemen took a timeout and pulled Dainton, they cut the Providence lead to one when Chris Davis was credited with his third goal of the season. Off the face-off, Kostka threw a low wrist shot through traffic that was deflected by Davis for the score. Despite numerous shots during the last minute of play, the Minutemen could not tally the equalizer. Shots in the final period were 13-13.